Over the bank holiday weekend, Poundbury Gardens welcomed artists from the area to be part of the fourth annual Big Picture, which this year was a version of Canaletto’s 1748 painting of the Thames pageant – in honour of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Year and the wonderful pageant that was watched by millions around the world.

Artists showed up to paint amongst the plants in the Garden Centre and they worked towards creating an 18ft piece of artwork. The project involved 36 canvasses, which were painted simultaneously by different artists with different styles, before being joined together to form The Big Picture and displayed in the Engine Room.

Here’s a gallery of the artists at work and some of the final masterpiece.

Thanks to everyone who took part and see you with your brushes in hand next year

James